Process of electrically heating water and other liquids.



PATENTED AUG. 1', 1905.

E. A. BYRNESJ PROG ESS 0F ELEGTRIG'ALLY HEATING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS.

J} U/GJT/tOT I WMM APPLICATION FILED DEO.10, 1904.

4 4 1 r iL wys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PROCESS OF ELECTRICALLY HEATING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I atented Aug. 1, 1905.

Application filed December 10,1904. Serial No. 236,361.

To a "11/71/0711, 116 771/151, concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE A. BYRNES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Electrically HeatingWater and other Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

According to this process, water and other liquids are heated byelectrically heating a porous or granular resistance-conductor andpassing the liquid into or through the heated conductor, thus exposing alarge heated surface to the liquid in the interstices of the conductor.

For the purpose of illustration two forms of apparatus for carrying outthe process are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 isan axial section of a heater employing a granular resistance-conductor,and Fig. 2 is an axial section of a heater employing a tubularresistance-conductor.

The heater shown in Fig. 1 comprises a tubular body 1, which may be ofelectricallynon conductive material, such as glass or porcelain or ofenameled iron. Theends of the body are closed by metal covers 2 3,rubber washers 4 being interposed. The covers are forced against thewashers by long bolts which pass through marginal openings in thecovers. An insulating-bushing 6 surrounds one end of each bolt. A layer7 of a heat-insulating material surrounds the body 1 and is inclosed ina thin metal casing 8. A watersupply pipe 9 enters the lower head 3, andan outlet-pipe 10 leads from the upper head 2. Within the body 1 is agranular mass 11 of electrically-conductive materialsuch as brokencarbon or a mixture of graphite, carborund um, and silicaconstituting aresistance-conductor. This mass is supported on a perforated metalterminal plate 12, having a binding-post 13, and supports a secondperforated metal terminal plate 14:. A metal thumbscrew 15, carryingabinding-post 16, is threaded through the upper cover 2 and bears on theplate 14, so that the granular mass 11 may be compressed to give it thedesired electrical resistance.

In using the described heater an electric current is passed through thegranular resistance-conductor, and the water or other liquid.

to be heated is introduced through the pipe 12, thence entering theinterstices of the conductor, whereby it is quickly raised to anydesired temperature. The water may be heated while at rest or in motion,a continuous current of water being preferably passed through theapparatus and out of the pipe 10.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 comprises a tubular body 1, preferably ofelectricallynon-conductive material, closed at the ends by metal heads 23. The heads are secured in place by bolts 5, insulated by bushings 6.The body is surrounded by heat insulation 7 in a metal casing 8. Asupply-pipe 9 enters the lower head, and a discharge-pipe 10 leads fromthe upper head. Axially arranged within the body 1 is a porous tubularresistanceconductor 17, which may consist of a molded and baked mixtureof graphite, silica, and a binder. This conductor is closed at its lowerend and has a marginal horizontal flange 18 at its upper end. Thisflange is surrounded by a rubber packing-ring 19 and is clamped betweentheupper head 2 and the body 1. Surrounding the lower end of theconductor 17 is a metal ring-terminal 20, which bears against aspring-contact 21, carried by a binding-post 22, passing through thelower head. A second metal ring-terminal 23 is secured to the upper endof the conductor 17 and bears against a spring-contact 24, carried bythe metal cover 2, which in turn has a binding-post 25.

In using the second type of heater the tubular resistance-conductor iselectrically heated and water is introduced through the pipe 9 andgradually forced through the heated conductor and out of the pipe 10, acontinuous heating thus being efl'ected.

The granular or porous resistance-conductors are or may be effective notonly to heat and sterilize but also to filter the water. A similarheater may also be used to generate steam. If the liquid to be heated isa conductor of electricity, the conductivity of the resistance-conductormay be correspondingly decreased.

It will be understood that the resistanceconductors may beelectrically'heated either before or after the liquid has beenintroduced into their interstices. It is preferred to si multaneouslypass currents of electricity and. the liquid to be heated through theseconductors.

I claim- 1. The process of heatingliquids, which consists inelectrically heating a porous or granu lar resistance-conductor, andintroducing the In testimony whereofl affix my signatth'e in presence oftwo witnesses.

EUGENE A. BYRNES.

Witnesses:

CLINTON P. TOWNSEND, JULIA B. HILL.

